At our last reading, we saw how we can approach God in prayer. You will become more intimate with God through prayer as you build your relationship with Jesus Christ, and you will pray often. For me, prayer is as important as being forgiven, because without it, we would be likened to a mute person, unable to express his thoughts. We would not be able to express our thoughts toward God without prayer. It is like visiting your father or mother and trying to speak to them but find that no words come out of your mouth when you are with them. I pray today about relationships in my life, that they could be better. If we are born again and do not speak to our heavenly Father in prayer, then being a Christian would be empty and pointless.

At our last reading, we saw how we can approach God in prayer. You will become more intimate with God through prayer as you build your relationship with Jesus Christ, and you will pray often. For me, prayer is as important as being forgiven, because without it, we would be likened to a mute person, unable to express his thoughts. We would not be able to express our thoughts toward God without prayer. It is like visiting your father or mother and trying to speak to them but find that no words come out of your mouth when you are with them. I pray today about relationships in my life, that they could be better. If we are born again and do not speak to our heavenly Father in prayer, then being a Christian would be empty and pointless.

As you become a man or woman of prayer, you will find yourself praying always and everywhere. Your prayers may be a few words or several thoughts, praying for one or many. You may pray in your car, on the way to work, (with your eyes open of course) or you may pray while you walk in the mall, your mouth closed but your mind communing with the Lord. You may pray while in the restroom, and as funny or weird as that sounds, sometimes for me, it is the only place I can find sanctuary.

But wherever you pray, it will be often, if you give yourself to prayer and make the time for it. Make an appointment with Jesus and make sure you keep it. When you keep in mind the manner of prayer then whether your prayer is fast because it needs to be, or whether you spend hours in prayer, you can always have a foundation on how to start and end your prayer.

However you pray, it should be the ?Natural outflow of the heart,? not something setup or preplanned, but what is naturally there, spoken at that moment. ?Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer? (Psalm 19:14). The Lord wants to hear from your heart and if what you are requesting is good for you at that time He will grant it. He says ?may He grant you according to your hearts desire, and fulfill all your purpose? (Psalm 20:4). We read the words of King David as he spoke to the Lord ?you have given him his heart?s desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips? (Psalm 21:2). So we see that God wants to bless our heart?s desires, but only in His appointed time. So your prayers should always be praising the Lord, thanking Him, and asking for His spiritual blessings, like wisdom, contentment, strength, joy, and His faith. ?The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!? (Psalm 22:26)

When a man?s heart is of the world then evil is the only thing that will come out of his mouth. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees He said, ?Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks? (Matt. 12:34). ?A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things? (Matt 12:35). These men were so-called men of God and prayed, but were not heard by God. So when you are fulfilling the requirements of biblical Christianity and sticking to it daily, then when you pray it will bring blessings to Jesus Christ and He will hear your requests.

When you pray to Jesus be of a merry heart and ask for forgiveness, because if not, then prayer has no use and will be a waste of time. ?A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones? (Proverbs 17:22). And we understand from Scripture, that if you?re a married man and not doing as the Lord is asking, then your prayers are hindered. The Bible says, ?husbands, likewise, dwell with them (wife) with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered? (1 Peter 3:7).

So if we do not love our wives, treating them properly and with respect, striving to be understanding towards them, then God will not answer our prayers. As a Christian I must look at this very closely because I want God to hear me. This applies to women as well, and although it doesn?t say it specifically, I believe God uses a lot of what He says to work in a ?visa versa? kind of way.

So the Kinds of Prayer are really a ?heart issue.? As we walk close to Jesus Christ, we will find that it changes us only if we continue to pray and commune with God and ?stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still? (Psalm 4:4). And we learn from Scripture how prayer is a gift from God. ?Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you? ( 1 Thess. 5:16-18 ). And ?my voice you shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to you, and will look up? (Psalm 5:3). So may you go in peace and hold your head up high and I pray that the Lord work in your heart and choose you for unto salvation and may you be willing to follow Him and be Born Again. Pray always during the day; give to God, because He always gives to us.

Reproduction Rights for Access Christian granted by Guiding Light Prayer Ministry.



Copyright? 2004-2005 GLPM ? All Rights Reserved ? Michael J. Martinez

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Published on: 2005-03-23 (2375 reads)